Vent operator assembly

ABSTRACT

This invention involves an operator assembly for vents particularly roof vents for mobile homes, campers and trailers. It employs the basic operating elements found in operators for casement type windows, including a helical screw rotated by handle and engaging a sector gear on the edge of the vent extension arm. The arm engages a track secured to the vent while the helical screw and crank assembly are secured to the window frame or vent frame. Actuation of the crank in one direction moves the arm through an arc and the arm in turns opens or closes the vent depending upon the direction of rotation of the handle. This invention involves the mounting of these operating elements employing the structural support member for the vent operator as its housing and eliminating the function formerly provided by the operator housing. The support member is conventional I or H beam configuration, a channel or rectangular tube. The operator assembly may be enclosed, if desired, merely by the addition of a snap-on cover engaging one side of the structural support.

United States Patent [191 Kelly [111 3,846,938 [451 Nov. 12, 1974 1 VENTOPERATOR ASSEMBLY Donald V. Kelly, 10642 Helendale, Tujunga, Calif.91042 [761 Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 49/342 [51] Int. Cl E05f 11/24 [58] Field of Search 49/52,53, 354, 355, 356, 49/324. 342; 98/998 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,112,401 9/1914 Allen 49/356 2.372.164 3/1945 Woodhams49/342 X 2.610.848 9/1952 Carlston 49/342 2.699.232 l/l955 Singleton49/342 2.801.845 8/1957 Rodaway 49/342 Primary Examiner-Kenneth DowneyAttorney, Agent, or Firm-John E. Wagner [57] ABSTRACT This inventioninvolves an operator assembly for vents particularly roof vents formobile homes, campers and trailers. It employs the basic operatingelements found in operators for casement type windows, including ahelical screw rotated by handle and engaging a sector gear on the edgeof the vent extension arm. The arm engages a track secured to the ventwhile the helical screw and crank assembly are secured to the windowframe or vent frame. Actuation of the crank in one direction moves thearm through an arc and the arm in turns opens or closes the ventdepending upon the direction of rotation of the handle. This inventioninvolves the mounting of these operating elements employing thestructural support member for the vent operator as its housing andeliminating the function formerly provided by the operator housing. Thesupport member is conventional l or H beam configuration, a channel orrectangular tube. The operator assembly may be enclosed, if desired,merely by the addition of a snap-on cover engaging one side of thestructural support.

1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIIUV 12 I974 saw ear 2' FIG. 7

FIG.}8

VENT OPERATOR ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The casement windowcrank type operator has long been made up of five basic parts. Thereare: (I) an operator arm mounted for rotational movement and having asector gear surface which engages; (2) a helical screw for rotation ofthe operator arm. The helical screw and operator arm are secured in (3)a housing which normally is of die cast metal. The operating portion ofthe arm extends out of the housing to one side and the end of thehelical'screw assembly extends out of the opposite side of the housing.Crank connected to the helical screw assembly complete the operator. Thehousing is secured to a frame member and the end of the operator armengages a track in the window.

Classical casement window operators of this type have been recentlyapplied as operators for roof vents in mobile homes, trailers andcampers to open and close such vents. One unique situation encounteredin such applications is that the vent is positioned on the roof and maybe opened when the vehicle is moving. Therefore, in addition to thenormal loading on such a vent, there is a substantial wind load. Forthis reason, the operator of such a wing of a vent is positioned alongthe center line of the vent rather than at one side or the bottom in thecase of conventional casement windows. A center placement tends tobalance the wind load and transfer it to the operator thereby avoidingdistortion of the vent. It does necessitate the presence of a structuralmember passing through the center of the vent opening. Typically, theoperator is secured to the central structural member by its casing. Inthis use, the housing of the operator is positioned with the operatingarm opening on top and in a position that precipitation and dustentering the opening are trapped. Normally such operators have noprovision for cleaning and at best are cleaned with extreme difficulty.Gravel or large particles of dust entering the necessary slot can jamthe gearing and prevent opening or closing of the vent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I have discovered that it is possibleto simplify the construction reduce the cost and minimize the retentionof dust, gravel and other contaminants of vent operators. This isaccomplished by employing a cross brace in the vent opening as the bodyand support for the operational portions of the vent operator, namely,the arm which engages the vent cover and the helical screw and crankassembly which advances and returns the operator arm. This is allachieved employing a brace of I or H beam configuration employing thetwo spaced plates or flanges for mounting the helical screw and the webof the beam for mounting the actuator arm. Minor punching operationsonly are required to form a brace into the body for the vent operator.

Alternate embodiments of the brace are channel and rectangular tubes.Another alternate embodiment, the brace forms three sides of the housingor enclosure and a simple snap on cover encloses the remainder of theoperator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING From the foregoing brief description ofthe invention it may be more fully understood with the followingdetailed description and by reference to the drawing in which: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vent employing the operator of thisinvention shown from the underside;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the operator details of thevent assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the vent operator of all lines 3-3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top view of the operator assembly details ofFIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternate embodiment ofthis invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section to the assembly of FIG. 5 taken along lines6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 5 with portionsbroken away for clarity;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section view through another alternate embodimentof this invention;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section through still another alternate embodimentof this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Now referring to FIG. 1. A traileror camper roof vent assumbly is shown in perspective view as would beseen by an occupant within the vehicle and with the vent in openposition. The vent generally designated IILir cIudes a cover or window11 which preferably is molded plastic material, either transparent ortranslucent and having sufficient structural strength to withstandnecessary wind loadings which the vent may encounter when in a partiallyopen position and the vehicle is in motion or subject to wind.

The cover or window 11 is dish shaped with a depending lip portion 12designed to extend over a mating column portion 13 of the vent framegenerally designated 14. At the upper edge of the column portion 13optionally is included an elastomeric seal 15 providing The vent cover11 is hinged to the frame 14 at one edge and preferably opened, closedand held in any intermediate position by a positive action operatordesignated generally as 20 in the drawing. This operator 20 engages boththe cover 11 and the frame 14. The engagement with the cover 11 is via atrack 21. The track 21 is preferably metal and extends between thehinged edge of cover 11 to the outermost edge and includes a recess fora pin in the end of the operator 20.

The operator 20 is similarly secured to and actually partially integralwith a longitudinal brace 22 of the frame 14. In accordance with theprior art each of the elements described above are found in prior artvents, however, the operator in such cases is a separate assembly havingits own housing. The operator assembly Now referring to FIG. 2, thefragmentary details of the operator of the assembly may be seen inbetter detail. The operator comprises in actuality an arm 23 secured byrivet or similar fastener 24 in pivotal relationship with the brace 22and extends through an opening 25 which preferably is punched in theupper plate 26 of the brace 22. Brace 22 in the preferred embodimenttakes the form of an H or I beam, a structural shape having maximumstrength for its'weight and a shape which is particularly useful inmaking attachments to planar objects. This latter characteristic of theH or I beam is particularly advantageous in this invention. Referringagain to the operator arm 23 at its lower end pivoted around the rivet24 has a sector gear 30 with a number of punched or machined gear teethin the edge of the arm 23. These gear teeth encompassapproximately 180of the circular end of arm 23 about the axis of rotation defined by therivet 24. This sector gear engages a helical screw operator 31 journaledbetween the upper plate 26 and the lower plate 32 of the brace 22. Thishelical screw includes lower extension 33 to which a crank arm 34 issecured. This arm is used for operating the vent.

As is apparent in FIG. 2, the arm 23 is secured to the central web 27portion of the structural brace 22 and the helical screw 31 to the twoplates 26 and 32 thereby establishing the required spaced perpendicularrelationship of the axes A and D of the arm and screw portion of theoperator. The handle 34 is similarly positioned for rotation below theplate 32. Because a reasonably central location of the helical screw 31is desired a portion of the central web 27 has been removed therebydefining opening 35.

The relationship in a vertical transverse plane of each of theseelements as described is better seen in FIG. 3. In this case it may beseen that the brace 22 is of I or H beam configuration with a slightoffset of the central web 27. This offset is not required and the widthsof the plates 26 and 32 is determined more by the strength requirementsof the brace than the operator 20. It may be seen that the upper andlower plates 26 and 32 ideally journal the helical screw operator 31directly in line with the arm 23. This alignment is further illustratedin FIG. 4 to which reference is now made. The extension of the arm 23through the opening 25 is quite apparent in this figure and the sectorgear 30 also is visible through the opening 15.

In carrying out this invention an ancillary advantage has beendiscovered as compared with the prior art operators for roof vents. Inthe past, a brace of the general type 22 has been used and an operatorincluding its own housing has been secured to the brace. By the natureof this type of operator a slot 25 normally appears in the housing forthe operator and as is apparent in FIG. 4 a slot of this nature exposesthe sector gear to precipitation, gravel and other contamination. It hasbeen the practice in the past to heavily lubricate such operators at thefactory and thereafter they are for all practical purposes notmaintainable. We have discovered that since vents of this type are oftenused in moving vehicles with the vent open and a significant flow of airoccurring in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 that dustparticles and gravel could enter the top of the housing and be trappedtherein. It should be noted that in this case the operator is opened andthere is no trap for gravel or other particles. The gearing is exposedand it may be lubricated and cleaned as desired. This advantage is inaddition to the principal advantage of elimination of the housingconstituting a major cost element of the operator assembly withoutelimination of any of its functions and at the same time eliminating thedust trapping characteristics from which it suffered.

Now referring to FIG. 5, in certain applications safety is aconsideration, a housing may be required. Normally the working elementsof the operator are positioned above the screen and out of reach,however, if housing is required, this may be easily accomplished inaccordance with the embodiment of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 5, the brace 22a is of substantially the same design as 22 ofFIG. 1 with the exception that it employs the pair of integral ribs 40and 41 paralleling the central web 27a which define screw slots for endmounting of the brace 22a in a manner well known in the art. These ribs40 and 41 perform the second function of holding a flexible plasticcover 42 which includes an edge lip best seen in FIG. 7 snapped underthe ribs 40 and 41. The cover 42 as indicated is of preferably plasticand may easily be removed for cleaning of the operator assembly. Inorder to enclose the entire operator assembly, I have found that thecentral web can provide the opposite side of the housing for theoperator. This is apparent in FIG. 6 in which a cavity 43 is formed bystretch forming the central web 270 sufficiently to receive the screwoperator 31.

The details of the cover 42 including its edge lip 45 and 46 designed toengage the ribs 40 and 41 are readily seen in FIG. 7.

The relative position of each of the elements in this alternateembodiment is also easily seen in FIG. 8 which shows a central web 27awith its cavity 43 and the cover 42 and its engagement with rib 41. Inthis case it should be noted that the operator assembly is totallyenclosed except for top opening slot appearing in FIG. 5 and ittherefore has all of the advantages of conventional operator with theadditional advantages of ease of cleaning.

In the foregoing discussion it is apparent that the ap plicant hasemployed the cross brace 22 required in all vent operators to constitutethe structural support for each of the particular elements of the ventoperator. This eliminates the need for vent operator housing. This isaccomplished since the brace, as designed, includes three surfaces: twoplates which are parallel to each other and a normal or penpendicularweb portion. This is characteristic of H or I beam configuration.

I have also found that other structural shapes or braces may similarlybe used and such are illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. In these figures thesame numeral designations are given to common parts. In this case thebrace 22b is in the form of a channel set on edge. It includes upper andlower flanges corresponding flanges 26b and 32b corresponding to theplates 26 and 32 of the embodiment of FIG. 2. In the central bodyportion 27b corresponding to a central web of embodiment of FIG. 2 inthis embodiment the central portion 27 is not perforated as in the caseof FIG. 2 and a spacer 60 is placed between the operator arm 23 and thecentral portion 27b.

FIG. 10 shows another alternate embodiment. In this case a hollowrectangular tube 220 as the brace and body for the operator 20. In thiscase the upper wall 260 and the lower wall 320 mount a screw operator 31and one side wall 270 mounts the arm 23.

From the foregoing it may be seen that I have simplified yet improvedvent operators employing the conventional brace member not only as thestructural support for the independent operator but supporting each ofthe component parts in their proper relationship. Employing thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 2 and the embodiment of FIG. 9, theoperator details are open for easy lubrication and cleaning. Employingthe embodiment of FIG. 5 and FIG. the operator assembly is fullyenclosed for protection if desired. Employing my invention the cost ofvents is significantly reduced and operationally they are superior.

The above described embodiments of this invention are merely descriptiveof its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope ofthis invention instead shall be determined from the scope of thefollowing claims, including their equivalents.

What is claimed is:

l. A vent assembly comprising a frame adapted to be installed in anenclosure and defining the opening therein;

a vent cover hinged to one side of said frame;

an operator including an arm engaging said vent cover for opening,closing and securing said vent cover in different positions;

said operator including a brace member including two parallel extendingsurfaces joined by a perpendicular connecting web portion;

means securing said brace member to said frame with said two parallelextending surfaces generally normal to the direction of opening of saidvent cover;

said arm of said operator including one end rotatably secured to the webportion of said brace member and including a sector gear portioncentered about the axis of rotation of the arm;

a helical screw journaled between the parallel extending surfaces ofsaid brace member and in operable engagement with said sector gearportion;

said operator also' including means for turning said helical screw toactuate said arm and open and close said vent cover;

and wherein said brace member includes elongated ribs in said paralellextending surfaces integral and extending parallel to and spaced fromsaid web portion and including flexible cover means dimensional toenclose said helical screw and sector gear portion of said arm and inengagement with said elongated ribs.

1. A vent assembly comprising a frame adapted to be installed in anenclosure and defining the opening therein; a vent cover hinged to oneside of said frame; an operator including an arm engaging said ventcover for opening, closing and securing said vent cover in differentpositions; said operator including a brace member including two parallelextending surfaces joined by a perpendicular connecting web portion;means securing said brace member to said frame with said two parallelextending surfaces generally normal to the direction of opening of saidvent cover; said arm of said operator including one end rotatablysecured to the web portion of said brace member and including a sectorgear portion centered about the axis of rotation of the arm; a helicalscrew journaled between the parallel extending surfaces of said bracemember and in operable engagement with said sector gear portion; saidoperator also including means for turning said helical screw to actuatesaid arm and open and close said vent cover; and wherein said bracemember includes elongated ribs in said paralell extending surfacesintegral and extending parallel to and spaced from said web portion andincluding flexible cover means dimensional to enclose said helical screwand sector gear portion of said arm and in engagement with saidelongated ribs.